When I was a little girl I was not fond of coconut. The only way I would eat it was in german chocolate cake and only if my Mom made it. I don't know when it happened, maybe it was just overnight, but as an adult, I love it. I've become a coconut-holic! I find myself adding coconut to granola, cookies, and every quick bread you can imagine. It was only a matter of time before I started making coconut cakes and pies. Searching through cookbooks one day I came across Ina Garten's recipe for coconut cupcakes and they looked divine! The flavors were great but I really wanted a light and spongy cake, so I decided to experiment with the cake recipe but I left the frosting as is. The frosting was perfect, good enough to eat with a spoon!
The following week I had a request for coconut cupcakes and I still hadn't perfected my cake recipe so at the last minute I grabbed a white cake mix and doctored it up with coconut milk and almond extract and the addition of shredded coconut. The cupcakes turned out perfect! They were light and spongy with a hint of coconut and they were perfect with Ina's cream cheese frosting. So much for my plans of a homemade white cake! Someday I will continue my quest but for now I have what I consider to be the perfect semi-homemade coconut cupcakes with heavenly cream cheese frosting and a sprinkling of shredded coconut decorating the top!
Hope you enjoy these cupcakes as much as I do! I'm sneaking off to the kitchen now to get one before the kids see them! ;)
Cupcakes:
1 box white cake mix
1 ¼ cups coconut milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 egg whites
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 cup shredded coconut
Beat ingredients together in a large bowl for 2 minutes on medium speed. Pour into cupcake pans filling each cup 2/3 full. Bake at 325 degrees F for 18 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool on rack.
Frosting:
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 ½ sticks butter, room temperature
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
¾ pound powdered sugar
Beat ingredients together for 3-5 minutes until smooth and fluffy.
Adapted from Ina Garten's "Barefoot Contessa at Home"
Recipe shared on:
My Turn For Us - Freedom Fridays
Hearth and Soul Blog Hop
These look great! I have a favorite coconut cake recipe but it also uses a boxed mix. Not certain what your homemade cake mix is, but I have made a vanilla cake mix from scratch and have found the key is in using lots of baking powder.
ReplyDeleteSheila- Please share your recipe, I would love to try it!! I always prefer cakes from scratch, my dulce de leche cupcakes are from scratch but it is a denser cake than I want for this recipe.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment!
Becky ;)
Wonderful recipe and great blog! Found your recipes on petitchef and following you now))
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogging!
Kate- I love petitchef! So glad you found me and like the blog! Thanks so much for following, I look forward to sharing many great recipes with you!
ReplyDeleteBecky ;)
pretty cupcakes! I love the wrappers, I've been looking all over for some cute cupcake tins (so far all i've got is white...) Love the coconut frosting! I've always loved coconut even as a kid, these look great!
ReplyDeleteKristina-
DeleteThanks so much! I love the wrappers too! I bought them at a craft store in town called Michael's....they have tons of great wrappers!
Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Becky
Becky~ a basic yellow cake recipe is as follows:
ReplyDelete2 1/4 c flour
1 1/2 c granulated sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 c milk {could sub coconut milk here; I often use evaporated milk}
1/2 c oil
2 eggs
Combine all dry ingredients and whisk together; add wet ingredients and stir to combine, then mix on medium speed for two minutes. For cake, bake 350F oven for 25-30 minutes. For cupcakes, bake 350F for 15-20 minutes. For white cake {coconut, too} use three egg whites instead of whole eggs.
Thanks Sheila! I will give them a try!
DeleteBecky =)
I looove coconut, so these would be the perfect treat for me! :) Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteOooh... I have every single ingredient for this! Gonna make soon, thanks for sharing! :-)
ReplyDeleteGo for it Renee...you will be soooo happy you did! Enjoy! ;)
DeleteI don't know when I first fell in love with coconut but I know I adore it now. These cupcakes look great. I have never had a Ina Garten recipe I didn't love.
ReplyDeleteI think I am smitten with this gorgeous recipe - how could i ever resist coconut cupcakes? Yum!
ReplyDeleteCheers
Choc Chip Uru
Latest: Nutella Oatmeal + Double Jaffa Nutella Giant Fudge Cookie For One
These look divine. I love coconut cake!
ReplyDeleteAs always it looks yummy. Love coconut cupcakes.
ReplyDeleteOhh coconut cupcakes are my fav! and I love that it's semi-homemade, makes life a little easier :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes you just can't improve upon perfection....the box mix is hard to beat and when you add all the yummy extras....EVEN BETTER!!! :)
DeleteWhat pretty cupcakes and they sound so delicious too, Becky. I love coconut but I know what you mean - when I was a kid I hated mayonnaise and avocados and now I love them both! Thank you for sharing with us at the Hearth and Soul hop. Pinned and will tweet :-)
ReplyDelete